March 21, 2014
Cook County Issues 575 Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
Bobby McGuire READ TIME: 1 MIN.
CHICAGO - The Cook County clerk's office says it has issued 575 marriage licenses to same-sex couple in the month since it was allowed by a court ruling.
Cook County Clerk David Orr said Friday that the couples have come from 17 states besides Illinois and 11 Illinois counties outside Cook County.
A state law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect June 1. But a federal judge in Chicago ruled Feb. 21 that Illinois' original ban was unconstitutional. Cook County started issuing the licenses the same day.
On March 4, Attorney General Lisa Madigan told Illinois county clerks that they have the right to immediately issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
